Officers on St. Thomas arrested a male minor on Monday and charged him with possession of an unlicensed firearm, according to a report from the V.I. Police Department.
The Special Response Team was conducting a proactive patrol in the Hospital Ground area late Sunday and early Monday, according to police, when they noticed a group of men loitering. Police say the teen was loitering in what they believe is a narcotics “hot spot.”
As the officers approached, the group started to walk off in the opposite direction. Police called for them to stop and they complied. Officers conducted pat downs of the individuals and discovered a silver and chrome .25 caliber handgun in the pants pocket of a 16-year-old.
The minor was placed under arrest and taken to the Youth Investigation Bureau to be processed. He was later placed in protective custody pending his appearance in Juvenile Court.
